Tanzania Bird Watching Safaris & Ornithological Tours

Bird Watching is a science, a sport and an art but above all, it is one of the highly rated leisure travel activity. A Bird Watching African Safari can also be a favorite past time of those who choose to visit the three East African countries of Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania collectively known as East Africa. The mere diversity of avifauna over these three countries with sightings being made of over 100 species in 24 hours guarantees the best ornithological tours on the continent.

East Africa has become a hub for both professional and amature birders looking for a place to challenge their birding skills and this has seen an increase in bird-watchers from all over the world converging here to identify the various species. To meet the demand, we have employed a team of local ornithologists who are familiar with the tropical species and who blend their information with folklore associated with each bird. The end result is an unforgetable African Bird Watching Safari! Here are the countries we recommend;

Tanzania Birding Highlight: Safari Itinerary 

Day 1: Arrival Arusha, Tanzania
Arrival, Meet our Representative /Driver /Guide, Pickup from Point of entry (Kilimanjaro International Airport). You will be driven in a 4WD Minibus/Land Cruiser /Land Rover ,depending on group size, in either case the Safari Vehicles are specially designed for Safari with pop-up roofs for game viewing and a guaranteed window seat for each passenger. Transfer to Arusha Town with Dinner and Overnight at Ilboru Safari Lodge.You will be briefed by your Tour Leader on arrival at the Lodge.

Day 2: Arusha, Ilboru Safari Lodge
The day begins with pre Breakfast birding around the lodge grounds,sighting small flocks of African fire finches,variable Sunbirds,Common Bulbuls and Olive Thrush. Breakfast and head north of Arusha to experience a walking safari ,visiting Arusha's only reliable site of White Fronted bee eaters then go searching for the rare Spike heeled Lark in the open grass lands of Oldonyo Sambu village; Spectacled Rechinow`s weavers,Yellow bellied eremomella,Vonderdakens and Red billed Hornbills and many dry country specialities shall be identified, we then have our Bush lunch under a tree shade as the sun will be at its hottest period of the day. We return to our lodge in the afternoon and continue with local birding around the Lodge. Dinner and Overnight. Ilboru Safari Lodge

Day 3: Serengeti National Park
Early break fast with our Lunches packed, we drive the long journey to the Serengeti arriving in the evening. A variety of Sand grouses ,Guinea fowls and Red necked Fracolins should be parading our way as we drive to the Lodge. Dinner and overnight at Ikoma Bush Tented Camp.

Day 4: Serengeti National Park
Pre breakfast. searching for Tanzanian endemics in the Serengeti to include; the Fischer’s Lovebird and Grey breasted Spurfowl. Return to the Lodge for breakfast. After breakfast we then go out for the rest of the day birding and game viewing; the Usambiro Barbets and the Grey capped social weaver ,as well the Secretary Bird and the Kori Bustard should be displaying as we drive along. Returning in the evening to your Tented Camp for Dinner and Overnight.

Day 5: Serengeti National Park
Second full day Birding and game viewing on the Serengeti plains.

Day 6: Ngorongoro Crater Conservation Area
After our breakfast, we drive out of the Serengeti into the Ngorongoro crater where our highlight will be the endemic Rufous tailed weaver. If chance avails the golden winged Sunbird should be spotted as well as a large flocks of both lesser and greater Flamingoes on the Magadi soda lake on the crater floor,a variety of Raptors should be seen above the skies to include the Tawny and Warlberg`s Eagle. Many large mammals shall also be added on our list. Dinner and Overnight at Ngorongoro Sopa Lodge.

Day 7: Tarangire National Park
The Day begins with an early breakfast, then drive to Tarangire with our packed Lunches, the highlights of the day is searching for the Tanzanian endemics ,again that will include the Rufous Tailed weaver, Yellow collard Lovebird and Ashy Stirling,the later occurring in only Tarangire. Dinner and overnight at the Tarangire Porini Luxury Tented Lodge.

Day 8: Tarangire National Park
After breakfast, do the Tarangire for a full day for birding along the River Bank. The Red fronted Parrot, Red fronted Tinker bird and Magpie Shrike could be the new ones for the day. Over night at Tarangire Safari Lodge.

Day 9: Tarangire National Park
Walking the neighbouring Maasai villages for birding ,return in the afternoon and bird locally around your Lodge. Evening go through your final tally of the check list. Dinner and Overnight at your Lodge.

Day 10: Back To Arusha + Depart
Tarangire - Arusha , catch PM flight home

Tanzania Romantic Birding Expedition (13 Days)

This Tanzania Bird Watching Safari takes you off the beaten track to some of the most remote but amazingly romantic bird-rich areas. Here, eight of the 10 birds' families endemic to mainland Africa are present. Raptors, plovers, parrots, turacos, bee-eaters, barbets, starlings, weavers, pipits and sunbirds are well represented. Led by excellent guides specialized in Bird life, this safari will visit some of the most interesting areas in Northern Tanzania focusing into different habitats and ecosystems. This is a true safari for keen naturalists, for people interested in something else than just viewing wildlife from the comfort of their vehicle. The safari concludes with a visit to Tanzania Coastline.
Here is your day-to-day itinerary for this bird watching trip:
Tanzania Birding Highlight: Safari Itinerary

Day 00: Arrival in Arusha
If you enter Tanzania by airplane, your flight arrives at Kilimanjaro International Airport in the evening. Your guide will wait for you at the arrival gate and transfers you to your hotel/lodge. If you arrive by vehicle, your guide meets you the next morning at your hotel/lodge.

Day 01: Arusha National Park
One of the most beautiful parks in Tanzania and located 32 KM from Arusha. Aside from the abundance of wildlife, fauna and flora there are three spectacular features; Momella lakes, Meru Crater, and the Ngurdoto Crater. Both Mount Kilimanjaro and Mount Meru can be seen from the park when the weather is fine.
Early morning is usually the best time to observe and watch birds and butterflies species in Arusha National Park. Therefore, after an early breakfast at your hotel/lodge, we start with a safari briefing and leave for the park. The common birds species found here are Bee-eater, Fish eagle, Tawny eagle, Verreaux's eagle, little Grebe, Egyptian goose, greater and lesser flamingo, Scaly francolin, silvery - checked hornbill, lammergeyer and parrot. We will lunch in the park and leave to your hotel/lodge in the evening, were you will have your dinner.

Day 02-03: Lake Manyara National Park
After breakfast at your hotel/lodge, we proceed to Lake Manyara National Park, nestling at the base of the Great Rift Valley escarpment. This park is noted for its incredible beauty. After passing the gate, you enter the lush forest that opens up into woodlands, grassland, swamps and the soda lake itself. It covers 330sq km and is a sanctuary to over 400 bird species, including flamingo, pelican, storks, sacred ibis, cormorants and Egyptian geese. Other wildlife are: gazelles; impala; buffalo; wildebeest; the famous tree climbing lion; hyenas; baboon; giraffe; hippopotamus; and a great number of smaller mammals. You stay overnight at a campsite/lodge.

Day 04: Ngorongoro Conservation Area
After breakfast, we depart for the Ngorongoro Crater. This crater is one of Africa's best known wildlife-viewing areas and one of Tanzania most visited. At about 20 km wide it is one of the largest calderas in the world and a year - round haven for wildlife and birds. It is always spectacular, watching countless flamingos form a pink blanket over the soda lake. More than 100 species of birds can be watched in this magnificent park. We leave in the afternoon and drive to Arusha for dinner and you stay overnight at a hotel.

Day 05: Usambara Mountain Area
Today we drive to Lushoto in the hart of the Usambara Mountains. The excellent roads take us through Moshi and the Pare Mountains to Mombo, the gateway to the Western Usambaras. From Mombo it is about 33 Kilometres (21 miles) to Lushoto, of which some roads require 4-wheel drive. On our way you will have spectacular sights including the lovely Soni falls, were the Bangala river falls hundreds of meters. This area is known for its butterflies. Dinner and you stay overnight at a campsite/lodge.

Day 06-07: Mount Usambara
Early morning and late evening are usually the best time to watch birds and butterflies species. We walk from the base camp to the peak and back. We walk slowly, partly to pace yourself, but most to watch birds and butterflies species and to enjoy the forest and its inhabitants. Everywhere you look there are things of interest. Your guide will point out beautiful birds, such as the African paradise flycatcher, Amani sunbird, Usambara hyalite, Hyalite, Fischer’s Turaco, black and yellow dark-backed weaver and the velvet black square - toiled Drongo. The searching for mixed foraging flocks in the forest is essential to locate many of the birds. The next day we continue with birds and butterflies watching and identification. If lucky, we might see the little yellow Flycatchers and plain backed Sum birds which can only be spotted along the East African Coast. The number of species recorded thus far is just over 1,000 and the East Usambara Mountains house close to 350 species, a number that continues to grow.
Dinner and overnight at a lodge.

Day 08: To Morogoro at the foot of the Uluguru Mountains
After an early breakfast, we proceed to Mount Uluguru and take the Arusha - Tanga highway to drive to Chalinze (238km). The gradient of the road is very gentle because it is originally designed for the oxen, pulling heavy loads.
We reach Morogoro town for dinner and overnight at a hotel/lodge.

Day 09-10: Uluguru Mountains
After an early breakfast, we proceed to Mgeta Province via the Mlali area. Here we start game viewing of birds and butterflies species in the Lukwangule forest reserve at Mountain Uluguru. Dinner and overnight at a campsite in the bush land of Mount Uluguru. The next morning we travel all over the Mountain Uluguru to learn about endemic and indigenous birds such as Uluguru bushrike grey breasted spurflowl, yellow throated green bull, banded green sunbird, uluguru violet-backed sunbird, loverbird, sunbird, ashy starling, long billed apalis and many more bird species. There are just over 500 bird species found in this area. Late afternoon we proceed to Morogoro town for dinner and overnight.

Day 11: From Morogoro to Dar-es-Salaam
After breakfast, we proceed to Dar-es-salaam, only a 3-hour drive. After lunch and resting time, we start an evening game watch in the Dar es salaam coast area.
We will encounter birds as the African marsh harrier, African darter, egret, Egyptian goose, cormorant, shoebill, grebes, cape oriole, nightjar, African skimmer, gulls, house crow, tits, eurosian oriole, peacock, white eyes birds (bats}, African kingfisher, and many migrant birds species from the northern part of the world such as Siberia who migrate to this area from September to April every year. Dinner and overnight at a lodge / hotel in the center of the city.

Day 12: Dar-es-Salaam South Coast
After breakfast we will have a walking safari to the south of Dar es Salaam to see butterflies species such as Monarch and Milkweeds from which more than 107 species have been recorded in this area. They are very elegant and their colorful swallowtails are a delight to watch. Dinner and overnight at a lodge / campsite / hotel in the center of the city.

Day 13: From Dar-es-Salaam to the airport
After breakfast, we transfer you from your hotel to either Dar es salaam airport or Ubungo bus terminal for other destinations. This marks end of tour